She nodded and leaned against Vex. Her quiet acceptance made Vex’s heart ache. I’ve got this bad.
When the door clicked behind Razor, Vex brushed Angel’s hair from her face. “How about a shampoo and shower?”
“That sounds unbelievably amazing.” Angel pushed herself off the table and almost toppled to the floor. As Vex stabilized her, she glanced up at him to ask, “How am I going to do this?”
“Come on, Little girl. I’ve got you.” He picked her up and carried her through his bedroom to the large, spacious bathroom. Her delicate body felt like skin and bones against him. When she relaxed against him, Vex savored her trust. She’d have to let him assist her. Angel simply wasn’t stable enough on her own.
Setting her bottom gently on the vanity, he waited until she was steady before gripping the granite top on each side of her. “I’m going to help you, Angel. I want you to know that keeping you safe is my priority.”
Her cheeks blushed an adorable rosy hue as she studied the front of his T-shirt. “I’m sorry you have to see me.”
“I’m not.”
She glanced up in surprise. “You’re not sorry you have to see me?”
“You want me to be honest with you, right?”
“Yes—please.”
Her hesitation before tacking on politeness made the corners of his mouth twitch upward. She had grown up in a more genteel family than his. “Something inside me tells me to pay attention to you. That you’re important. I think you’re my Little girl. Do you know what that is?”
“Little girl. Like the stories?”
“I’m not surprised that books with Littles and Daddies exist. Have you read a lot?” he asked.
She nodded and turned redder.
“I’m glad. Maybe we can enjoy one together later. I’m going to get you cleaned up like a Daddy would help his Little girl who’s hurt. Okay?”
“Thank you.”
Vex shucked off his boots and socks before reaching over his head to tug off his T-shirt. Her sharp inhale made him grin. “I’m glad you like what you see, Little girl. Come on. Let’s get these clothes off you. I vote we burn them.”
She nodded and smiled slightly for the first time.
Vex removed her socks and shoes before pulling her grimy shirt away. The ragged bottom made him guess she’d tried to tear it. He left her bra on for the moment and unfastened her jeans. The stiff and stained material pissed him off.
Angel shrank from him.
“Sorry, baby. My face always gives me away in a bar fight too, before I explode and kick someone’s ass. I’m not angry with you. I wish I’d taken out more Ravagers today.”
Her hand smoothed over the wrinkles in his forehead, drawing her attention back to him. Her cold fingers trembled slightly as she soothed him. Marveling at her sweetness, Vex turned his head to press a kiss against her fingers.
“Thanks for the reminder, sweet girl. We’re going to focus on now, right?”
She nodded, and her faint smile returned.
Vex stood her up and pushed down the soiled jeans. She wasn’t wearing panties. He understood immediately she’d used them as a pad and guessed she’d attempted to rip her shirt for the same purpose. Controlling the burst of anger that flared inside him was hard. His red hair was a good warning sign of the natural combustibility that had gotten him into a lot of trouble during his youth.
Lifting her out of the heavy material, he carried her to the large walk-in shower. He’d leave his pants on to avoid scaring her. After setting her on her feet and wrapping an arm around Angel’s waist to support her, Vex turned on the water to warm. “I bet this will feel good to get off,” he commented as he unfastened her bra and tossed it.
Her faint sigh of relief barely reached his ears over the rushing liquid.
“Let’s walk into the water, Angel. Is that too hot?”
She wobbled forward with his assistance and lifted her face into the spray. When she leaned out of the flow to breathe, her smile lit up the room.
“Feels good, doesn’t it? I bet clean will be even better.” After helping her turn to get her skin wet, Vex supported her with one arm as he reached for his usual bodywash. He smoothed the liquid soap over her shoulders, rubbing her skin gently. She arched her spine like a cat loving pets and leaned into his touch.
